Chapter 130: Preparing to Venture Forth

Generally, a practitioner at the peak of the Purple Mansion stage requires about 800 to 1,000 catties of elemental liquid to break through to the early stage of the Wanxiang level. Even when cultivating the "Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Manual," the premier divine demon body-refining technique of the Great Xia world, one would only need 2,500 catties. Yet, Yuntian consumed a full 3,600 catties before finally breaking through from the peak of the Purple Mansion to the early Wanxiang stage.

After the breakthrough, Yuntian temporarily ended his seclusion and emerged from the quiet room, summoning Yun Chen.

"Young Master!" Yun Chen arrived quickly, accompanied by three others—two men and one woman. Yuntian recognized one of the young men; he was Yun Feng, one of the two Purple Mansion cultivators who had once come to the Yun clan tribe to apprehend him. The other two were a cold, somber youth radiating a heavy killing intent and a beautiful, alluring woman dressed in a blue silk gown. It was clear these were the Purple Mansion cultivators the Yun clan had sent to serve as his attendants upon entering the Black-White Academy.

Glancing at the three, who stood with the utmost respect, Yuntian turned to Yun Chen and flipped his hand, producing a dark red ring. "Send someone to deliver this storage ring to my mother. I have specially refined it; only those with a blood relation to me can open it. Furthermore, no matter where this ring is, I can sense it. Also, help me purchase some auxiliary cultivation items for Xiantian and Purple Mansion cultivators—spiritual pills and the like. As long as they are useful, buy them. Here is a hundred catties of elemental liquid; that should be enough. Once you have purchased them, send them to my mother as well."

"Yes, Young Master, rest assured, I will handle it properly," Yun Chen replied respectfully, reaching out to take the dark red ring and a black jade bottle containing the hundred catties of elemental liquid.

"Good! Go and handle it at once!" With that, Yuntian ignored Yun Feng and the others, heading straight back to his quiet room to continue his cultivation.

However, the three—Yun Feng and his companions—dared not harbor any resentment. While they were considered talented within the Yun clan, they had no hope of being accepted into other top-tier sects. Being able to enter the Black-White Academy in this manner was a tremendous stroke of fortune, and it was all thanks to Yuntian. Moreover, they were aware that Yuntian had been cast out by the Yun clan in his youth; it was unlikely he would have any strong sense of belonging to the clan, so they hardly expected a warm welcome.

Entering seclusion once more, Yuntian first consumed nearly 13,000 catties of elemental liquid to reach the peak of the Wanxiang level. He then began practicing three divine soul techniques: the "Soul-Shaking Art," the "Soul-Extinguishing Art," and the "Soul-Bewitching Art." With his powerful soul, Yuntian found these techniques easy to master, completing them within a few days.

Next, he began cultivating the divine abilities "Law of Heaven and Earth" and "Three Heads and Six Arms." Given that Yuntian’s physical body had reached the Primordial Spirit level through the cultivation of the Chaos Golden Body, practicing these two abilities was relatively straightforward. He mastered them in just over ten days.

"The divine abilities of this Desolate Era world are truly profound!" Yuntian, having just mastered the "Three Heads and Six Arms," looked at his current form—three heads and six arms—and sighed with a smile. "In the myths of the Primordial Investiture of the Gods, Taiyi Zhenren gave Nezha three dates and three cups of wine, allowing him to grow three heads and six arms. That was merely using immortal treasures to manifest the form; those dates and wine were certainly no ordinary items and must have been exceptionally rare, otherwise, there wouldn't be so few with that ability in the legends. Yet, this 'Three Heads and Six Arms' ability can be cultivated by any divine demon body-refiner, without the need for auxiliary treasures. It is clearly far more sophisticated!"

"Hm? Ji Ning, Mu Zishuo? Why are they here?" Sensing their arrival, Yuntian raised an eyebrow, retracted his three heads and six arms, and left the quiet room.

A moment later, outside the pavilion of his residence, Yuntian warmly invited Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo to sit at a stone table. Nearby, a maidservant quickly served spiritual fruits, refreshments, and fine wine.

"Why have you two junior brothers come to visit me?" Yuntian personally poured wine for them and asked with a smile.

Mu Zishuo, being straightforward, couldn't help but blurt out, "Senior Brother Yun, I truly didn't expect you to spend three whole years in meditation before the Black-White Painting. You must have gained a great deal in those three years! Ji Ning and I heard that you were accepted as a disciple by Immortal Wufeng, so we came specifically to congratulate you. Also, we are planning to head out into the world to adventure; I wonder if you are interested in joining us?"

"Wasn't Junior Brother Ji Ning also accepted by Immortal Diancai?" Yuntian smiled at Ji Ning and nodded. "As for adventuring, that is exactly what I intended. Staying in seclusion to cultivate all the time is quite tedious. When do you plan to depart? Let me know in advance."

Mu Zishuo replied impatiently, "Senior Brother Yun, Ji Ning and I have already discussed it; we plan to set off tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Yuntian was slightly surprised. He looked at Ji Ning, and seeing him nod, he smiled. "Very well, tomorrow it is! However, before I leave, I must go and inform my master."

Ji Ning nodded. "That is only right. Senior Brother Yun, you should go and prepare. Zishuo and I won't disturb you further."

"Very well, walk slowly, junior brothers. I won't see you out." Rising to bid them farewell, Yuntian headed straight to the residence of Immortal Wufeng.

Inside the great hall of Immortal Wufeng's residence at the Black-White Academy, Yuntian found his master drinking and eating with a slovenly, plump youth. Both were gnawing on chicken legs, their mouths covered in grease.

"Qiankun, you’re here? Come, come, let me introduce you. This is your senior brother, San Pang, whom the world calls the Slovenly Daoist," Immortal Wufeng introduced with a smile. His pride was evident when he spoke of the plump youth; clearly, he was very satisfied with this disciple.

Although the Slovenly Daoist was not a reincarnated immortal, he had surpassed the other three reincarnated immortals to become the top disciple of the third generation, showing just how high his talent was. It was no wonder Immortal Wufeng felt such pride. It was difficult to find a powerful master, but it was just as difficult to take in a good disciple!

"Senior Brother San Pang!" Yuntian bowed and greeted the plump youth with a polite smile.

The Slovenly Daoist grinned, reached out, and pulled Yuntian to sit beside him. "Come, Junior Brother, join Master and me for some food and drink. Don't always keep your mind set on cultivation; even a Celestial Immortal cannot be achieved in a single day."

"Uh... Senior Brother is right," Yuntian replied with a slightly awkward smile, then added, "I have come to bid farewell to Master. I plan to head out and adventure with Junior Brothers Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo."

Immortal Wufeng raised his brows, nodded with satisfaction, and smiled. "Good! Going out to adventure and temper yourself will allow you to progress much faster."

"Junior Brother, out in the world, you might encounter all sorts of dangers. You must be very careful!" The Slovenly Daoist patted Yuntian on the shoulder with his grease-stained hand.

Immortal Wufeng glared at the Slovenly Daoist, then turned to Yuntian with a serious expression. "Qiankun, although what your senior brother said sounds unpleasant, there is truth to it. You must be careful when you go out. Why are there so few Primordial Spirit Daoists among the second-generation disciples of our Black-White Academy, despite having two or three hundred third-generation disciples? It is because the others have all perished on the path of cultivation."

"Since you are planning to head out, I shall bestow upon you a treasure for protection," Immortal Wufeng said, flipping his hand to reveal a small black gourd, which he handed to Yuntian.

A gourd? After thanking Immortal Wufeng, Yuntian took it with curiosity and could clearly feel the powerful ripples contained within the restrained aura of the gourd.

The Slovenly Daoist couldn't help but widen his eyes. "Master, aren't you being a bit too biased? When I first went out to adventure, I don't recall you giving me such a good defensive treasure."

"Are you planning to go out and adventure now? If you are, I will bestow one upon you as well," Immortal Wufeng retorted dryly.

The Slovenly Daoist curled his lip. "I don't want to adventure. Where could it be as comfortable as staying in the Black-White Academy? Besides, adventuring is dangerous—I’m afraid of death!"

"Afraid of death?" Yuntian was left speechless. To be afraid of death after embarking on the path of immortality? Even Celestial Immortals can fall!